Sinners & Saints (Sinners & Saints #1) (26 page)

“There,” he closes his mouth quickly
and frowns. “Happy now?”

“Very.”

“You guys want to go out tonight?”
Poppy asks with Jordana standing by her side.

“No,” Hugo answers.

“Actually, Nicky really wants us to go
out tonight,” Jordana says, narrowing her eyes at me.

I look past them to see Nicky King who
is looking very good. He smiles at me and nods his head towards my direction.

I smile and surprisingly blush.

“Nicky King, really?” Hugo asks,
disapprovingly.

“Wow,” Jordana’s eyes widen. “Beyoncé’s
‘Jealous’ is the perfect song to be playing right now.”

“Let us not be ludicrous,” he sneers at
her then looks back at me. “A person of your stature could do better than Nicky
King.”

“Let us go and find some other
business, Poppy,” Jordana says.

“Wait, this is getting really good.”
Jordana drags Poppy away.

“Well,” Juliet drawls out, baffled at
my opinion. “A person of your stature could do better than well… everything
that you do. Some of the girls you sleep with can do better than you. But
instead we sometimes settle for ambiguity.”

“I thought you were a person who would
never settle? A person who is not ordinary.”

“It’s sometimes hard when the thing you
want is something you can never get the chance to reach beyond settling.”

           
“Yeah,
but that’s just it,” he quietly says.

           
“What?”

           
“You’re
a fighter. If the thing you want is not within reach, you go for it anyway. You
fight for it.”

           
How
can he even speak to me through subtitles?

           
“Hugo,
sometimes the fighter has to be fought for every once in a while.” Before I
leave, I would like to point something out. “Oh, and also by telling me I’m not
ordinary, it’s confirming that you think I’m extraordinary. Which I am…
Hopefully your stupidity doesn’t overcome you and realize that my stupidity has
when it comes to you because while you’re suggesting someone of my stature
could do better than someone else, it is quite clear that I could do better
than you. Unfortunately, I’m stupid.” I force a smile.

           
His
face contorts. “What the fuck? What the fuck just happened?”

           
“I
mind fucked you like I always do. When people tell the truth more than people
like you and Scarlett, it renders even the jackasses speechless.”

           
I
smile at him and walk off.

18

Scarlett

I needed to do some retail therapy so I
spent most of the day on Madison Avenue.
 
All this being good for Patrick is stressful. The sex and gifts from him
have been making it less difficult, but now his mother is making it more
difficult again. Patrick is at a meeting; I know that. His sister is probably
in her room texting or whatever and Jane is sitting in my living room watching
the news, but to me it looks like she’s been waiting for me.

           
“I
see you’ve been spending more of my son’s money,” she says without even
blinking her eyes as she pierces them along with daggers into my face.

           
I
laugh a little at the audacity. “Oh, Jane. You forget that my father and
mother’s family are both comprised of prestigious and very wealthy citizens of
this fine country.”

           
“And
yet it still doesn’t stop you from pursuing eligible rich, fine men like my
son.”

           
“That’s
a bit hypocritical, don’t you think, Jane?” I fold my hands together and enter
the living room as the bellboy puts away my bags and leaves. “Being a woman
from… a lesser means family, I’m sure you didn’t enjoy people assuming that you
were spending your husband’s money as he worked hard for it.” Her jaw starts to
tighten and her brow creases, showing wrinkles in her forehead. “They even
spread horrid rumors like… like that you were pregnant with Patrick’s brother
before marrying Mr. Townsend. That the fact that you were pregnant was the only
way for a man of his stature and credentials to make you an honorable wife. But
that’s all alleged.”

           
She
smirks. I’ve given her a taste of my true self and she thinks she has me, but
what she doesn’t know is that in this card game, I play all hands—even
hers.

           
“I’ve
spent many years on this side of the world. Before that I was in space watching
this world, wanting to be a part of it.
 
Land my mark and what I’ve learned, Scarlett, someone is always there to
bring you down to the gutter.”

           
“There
are no gutters in Manhattan, Jane.”

           
“Yes,
there are. The rats take refuge in them. Rats dolled in Tiffany’s. I know who
you were, Scarlett, and I know that you are still that same girl I heard
discouraging tales of. You can keep that smug grin on your face for as long as
you want, but one day my son will see past it.”

           
“There
is nothing to see, Jane. I would never hurt him. God, I’ve heard of people
hurting the ones they love in a horrible way. Honestly, my past should never
measure up to the betrayal others have suffered.” This is when you make the
move that basically tells you you’re screwed. It’s where you either call your
opponent’s bluff or not. “Like the time this boy in my high school—son of
a very popular business man—well, he found out that his dad wasn’t his
father at all.” I make sure to stare into her now startled eyes. “No, his
mother apparently had an affair, I think? It was a huge scandal,” I sigh. “Now
that, Jane… that would be a betrayal.”

           
She
stays stiff in the chair as I head to the kitchen. “I’m going to order takeout.
Want anything?” I ask her but no response.

           
Like
I say, I play all hands.

HUGO

“Do you ever think about your mom?”

           
I
open my eyes and turn my head to the other side laying on the pillow. “Why are
you asking me that?”

           
She
isn’t facing me, but I can tell she’s serious.

           
“I
just wanted to know.”

           
“I
don’t talk about my mother,” I say sternly. I turn on my back, the sheet falling
off my waist. Kelly turns on her other side and she faces me. She watches while
I reach over on the nightstand and light up a joint.

           
“Sometimes
your dad says her name in his sleep.”

           
I
stop breathing for a moment. Can’t say I’m not shocked. I finally exhale the
smoke out, still staring at the white ceiling.

           
“I
used to think that it meant he loved and missed her… but then one day I figured
it out when someone else mentioned her name to him. Jonathan spoke of her as if
she was a stranger. He said she was an ambitious woman when he was introduced
to her by their parents. He spoke of her like just another person he knew in
his life. I realized that it was not out of love he calls her name… it’s out of
guilt.”

           
He’s guilty?! I don’t believe it.

           
“So
again… why ask or even tell me that?”

           
She
sighs. “I just wanted to hear someone speak of the great Susanna with love.”

           
“You
want to know what it’s like for someone to speak of genuine devotion and care
for someone… because you’ve never heard it and you fear that when you’re dead…
no one will speak of you either that way.”

           
I
turn my head towards her. Her wet eyes tell me I’m right.

           
“You’re
such an asshole… but yeah you’re right. I like that I can be truthful with you.
You bring that out of people. I’ve been lying my whole life. It feels nice to
speak the truth.”

           
“Don’t
you see a shrink?”

           
“Hugo,”
she laughs a little. “I’m the type of person who not only lies to the people
around her but her shrink also.”

           
“My
mother did that too.” I pass her the joint. She didn’t start smoking weed until
she started sleeping with me.

           
“Really?”
she chokes out. She’s still not used to the inhaling part. “How do you know
that?”

           
“Because
she told me and my brothers the truth.”

           
She
passes the joint back to me and rises up on her elbows.

           
“Hugo,
we need to end this,” she says with conviction.

           
“I
almost believe you mean that.”

           
“I
do… I love your father.”

           
“Ironic.”

           
“Yes,
it is.” She wipes her hand across her face.

           
“Okay
then.” I sit up and she smirks at me, arching her brow.

           
“Okay?”
she questions. “You’re not gonna try to manipulate me into thinking I don’t
want to?”

           
“Oh,
I know half of you doesn’t want to stop, but I also know that half of you does
because you as a whole hate yourself every time you come in this room with me…
and I would like to end it too.”

           
Her
head jerks back. “Why? I thought you liked this stuff.”

           
“I
do… but…” I look at her for a moment then shake my head. “Never mind.”

           
“What?”

           
“When
we first started doing this… I didn’t enjoy it.”

           
“Well,
that ruins what self-esteem I have left.” She laughs a little.

           
“No,”
I place my hand on her wrist. “You are a fine woman in bed. Very flexible.” She
giggles when I say that. “You are wonderful… it’s just that I’ve been doing
this for a while and… it’s…”

           
“Fucking
everything that walks is starting to get old.”

           
“Yes,”
It’s hard for me to admit. “Yes, that’s it. It’s strange.”

           
She
sits up and narrows her eyes at me. The way she’s looking at me right now is
annoying. It’s like she knows something I don’t. “You like someone.”

           
“What?”
I become defensive. “Don’t be absurd.”

           
“You
do…” She smiles and I think her eyes are starting to tear up some more. “The
only time a man ever gets tired of being able to have any woman he wants is
when he actually meets a woman he not only wants… but needs.”

           
“You’re
annoying me now.”

           
“Fine,”
she says amused. “I’ll leave it be.” She gets out of the bed as I lay back down
and I watch as she begins to put on her clothes. She’s the third woman I’ve
slept with who has pointed out that I have feelings for Juliet. Alright, I do,
but if I say it out loud, if I even whisper it… it will mean… I can’t even say
that in my head. If I say it all in my head, it’s bound to come out of my mouth.

           
“Whoever
she is, Hugo,” she says after getting dressed and grabbing her purse, “I envy
her… not because it’s you
—
just
because it’s… not me.”

           
She
walks out the door and I’m pretty sure this is the last time I will see her on
a personal level. Well, until after I ruin another part of her life.
 

JULIET

JITTERY
BIOOOTCCHH:

Basically,
you are in deep shit. I love it when karma comes to bite you in the ass. You’re
in love with this idiot. I know what you’re saying. NO I AM NOT. Guess what
bitch, you are. I went and stalked his Instagram and Facebook. He is
SEEEEEEEXXXYYYY!!!! Like David Beckham sexy, but you’re no posh, so what are
you gonna do? I say fuck his brains out. Keep me updated. I will lift the rule
of you texting me first for this one thing. I. E. Don’t text me updates unless
it starts with… I fucked his brains out. Chow Babe!

Jess is seriously a nutter. I deal with
it all because of guilt and love. I’ve grown to love the random text messages
she sends me and the somewhat advice she gives me. I’ve grown to redemption.
She always says she forgives me, but I sometimes don’t forgive myself, but I
know I must keep living. She always says no matter what you should keep living.

           
“I
had a short love affair with a Beatle once.”

           
I
look up from my phone to see Ms. Eleanor who is randomly staring out of her
window
—
wait… did
she just say she had a love affair with a Beatle?

           
“Really?”
I ask.

           
She
sighs. “Yes.”

           
“Which
one?”

           
“The
talented one.”

           
“Um…okay,”
I say because last time I checked they all were talented. Well I guess it’s
debatable between McCartney and Lennon on who was the most talented.

“I’ve had many lovers, Juliet.” She
looks at me. “Did you know that?”

“Uhh, I suspected.” I laugh a little at
my sarcasm.

“Yes, each one has left a certain
memorabilia. Each one has been a contribution to the woman I am today.”

The way she’s speaking. She seems sad
almost about something.

“Let us celebrate tonight,” she says
turning around putting on that cheerful smile.

“What?”

“Why life, my dear. Life should always
be celebrated. Thomas!” She calls on Thomas and as usual he appears out of
nowhere.

“Yes, madam?”

I swear Ms. Eleanor is fucking awesome.
You know why? Because not only did she have us lay out this huge gold Egyptian
rug in the middle of the entrance between the living room and patio and lay out
colorful pillows all over the floor where we sit and eat probably the best
Indian food I have ever tasted, but she is playing over the speaker “Arabian
Nights” from the wonderful Disney film
Aladdin
.
Yes, we people in England have the Disney Channel and films. Poppy found this
to be shocking.

“I wish we could see the stars from
here,” Cody says, lying back next to me. We’re all lying down, forming a
circle. August is next to me; he jumped to lie next to me and pulled Hugo so he
could lie next to him. We’re all smoking weed out of Ms. Eleanor’s special
Hookah. She says it’s enchanted. It must be because I am high out my mind right
now.

“That’s how I know you’re not high
enough Cody,” I suddenly realize. “Because I am definitely seeing stars in the
New York sky.”